Indiana State University Newsroom

Bat conference to explore bat mortality, feature students’ research

March 31, 2014

More than 100 bat experts and enthusiasts will gather at Indiana State University's campus, April 3-4, to discuss the latest developments and research.

The sixth annual Midwest Bat Working Group Annual Meeting will start Thursday with sessions including an update on endangered bat species, the effect of wind turbines on bat mortality and the status of the deadly White-Nose Syndrome.

On Friday, state officials will provide updates from their territories, and students and professors will present their research findings on a variety of topics, including the following:

-- Bats and pools: Are bats using swimming pools as an alternative water source and are any management actions being taken by any to reduce wildlife mortality in pools?

-- Impacts of White-Nose Syndrome on Plainfield bats: Researchers examined whether changes in summer populations could be attributable to WNS presence during winter.

Indiana State will be well-represented with two undergraduates and three graduate students as presenters.

"We have a pretty strong involvement [in the Midwest Bat conference]," said Joy O'Keefe, assistant professor of biology and director of the Center for Bat Research, Outreach and Conservation at Indiana State. "It's partly a reflection of the fact that it's on campus, but also we just have a really strong bat program. There's not another Midwest school that has this many students studying bats."

Conference sessions will be held at the Sycamore Banquet Center in the Hulman Memorial Student Union.

Pre-registration is encouraged. Go to www.mwbwg.org for more information.

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Contact: Brianne Walters, assistant director of the Center for Bat Research, Outreach and Conservation at Indiana State, 812-237-2808 or brianne.walters@indstate.edu

Story Highlights

The sixth annual Midwest Bat Working Group Annual Meeting will include sessions such as an update on endangered bat species, the effect of wind turbines on bat mortality and the status of the deadly White-Nose Syndrome.